Islington

Islington's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, religion and health.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Islington increased by 17%, from just under 176,000 to 206,000.

The addition of just over 30,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Islington was home to, on average, 99 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it England's most densely-populated borough.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Islington

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Islington decreased by one year, from 32 to 31 years.

This cosmopolitan area had a lower average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 14,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just under 300.

About 24% of people in Islington are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Islington by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Islington

Islington saw England's largest fall in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) people aged 16 and over in Islington said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 28% to 26%.

Rother saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner (from 10% to 13%).

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

Islington saw London's largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) households in Islington had an unmarried couple, compared with 9.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person decreased from 44% to 39%.

Across the region, Wandsworth saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011).

During this period, Islington overtook Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth to become the London local authority area with the second-highest percentage of cohabiting households.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across London

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Islington stood out from other areas for children

The percentage of households with children fell in Islington, while rising across London.

In Islington, the proportion came down from 24% in 2001 to 22% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 31%.

The proportion of households without children in Islington increased from 70% to 71%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 6.5% to 6.7%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across London

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

Islington saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people working long hours.

During this period, Islington overtook Isles of Scilly and Wandsworth to become the English local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of long hours workers.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Islington said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 6.6% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 4.0% to 4.4%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people working long hours occurred in Southwark (from 4.6% to 5.7%) followed by City of London (from 11% to 12%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to City of London should be made with caution.

Long hour working was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Islington that rented privately increased from 17% to 27% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (42%) households lived in social housing, compared with 49% in 2001. The percentage of Islington households that owned their home decreased from 32% to 28%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Islington increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Islington, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Islington

The percentage of Islington residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.3% to 4.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Islington residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Islington

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 36% said they had no religion. An increase from 26% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Islington.

Across London, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17% to 23%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 48% of those who disclosed their religion in Islington said they were Christian, down from 60% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Sikh, down from 0.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation rose from 11% to 20% between the last two censuses.

In Islington, 20% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In London the percentage was 10% and across England the percentage was 8.6%.

The population without a religion in Islington increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Islington by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Islington residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 6.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Islington residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Islington decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Islington, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

The percentage of employed people increased in Islington at a faster rate than in Camden (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Islington).

In Islington, the proportion of employed people increased from 47% in 2001 to 51% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Camden increased from 45% to 46%.

Across London, the share of employed people decreased from 51% to 51%.

The rate of unemployment in Islington fell from 5.8% to 5.4%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The rate of employment was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Islington

In 2011, 6.5% of the local population said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed). An increase from 4.1% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Islington.

Across London, the percentage of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.2% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 1.3% to 2.3%.

Around 68% of people in Islington said they were from the White ethnic groups, down from 75% in 2001. About 13% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from 12% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups rose from 7.1% to 9.2% between the last two censuses.

The population from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) in Islington increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Islington by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Islington residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.8% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Islington remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Islington by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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